Drinking-fountain



W. DOUCETTE.

DRINKING FOUNTAIN.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE Is, |917.

1,336,401 Patented Apr. 6 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM DOUCETTE, 0F REVERE, MASSACHUSETTS.

DRINKING-FOUNTAIN.

Application filed June 16, 1917.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM DoUcnrrn, of 366 Winthrop avenue, town of Revere, county of Suifolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Drinking-Fountains, of which the following description, in connection with accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates tol drinking fountains, more particularly to the so called public bubble drinking fountains and its primary object is the attachment thereof' to eX- isting faucets or the like without necessitating the replacement of said faucet with special fiXtures. In addition, the invention has for its object the use of both the faucet and the drinking fountain alternately without detaching or removing the latter from the former.

In order to illustrate my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawing one embodiment thereof wherein;

Figure 1 is a plan of my invention illustrating the application thereof to a faucet.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section on line 3 3 of Ifig. 1 with certain parts in a different position hereinafter described.

'Ihe terms employed herein are used in the generic and descriptive sense and therefore are not primarily intended as terms of limitation.

In the drawing 10 represents a split collar or the like adapted to be clamped to the ordinary straight spout faucet by the screw through the ears 11 and is provided at its lower end with a screw threaded portion 12. The member just described is in the nature of an adapter for use on faucets not provided with the standard coupling thread usually employed for the attachment of filters, hose pipes, couplings or other devices which it is desired to attach to such a faucet.

A nut 15 swiveled upon the shouldered sleeve 16 is designed to be screwed to the screw threaded portion 12 or to perform the same function with respect to a faucet already provided with the standard screwthreaded portion. A washer 17 may be employed between the enlarged head 18 on the sleeve 16 and the adapter above de- Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Serial No. 175,179.

scribed or between the faucet and sleeve as the case may be.

The sleeve 16 is integral with or secured to a cap or head 19 having a screw threaded portion 20. The said sleeve 16 is provided with a central bore 21 and the lower end of said sleeve projects for a short distance within the head 19 and may be opened at the lower end or if closed as shown herein orifices 22 are provided through the said projecting portion in order that water entering said central bore 21Amay find entrance to the interior of the said head 19. A filter, filter screen 18 or the like is preferably located interiorly of the top of the cap or head 19 in order that large particles or foreign substances may be prevented from passing through to the bubble head or through the valve seats hereinafter described.

Screw threaded to the portion 2O is a cage, or casing, 21 having a substantially large central bore 25 and a reduced nozzle having a central bore or discharge orifice 26. At the junction between the bores 25 and 26 I preferably provide a frustoconioal valve seat 27 adapted to cooperate with a correspondingly tapered seat 28 upon a cylindrical valve 29.

Thev valve 29 is provided also with an upper conical valve. seat 30 adapted in its operation to cooperate with a stationary valve seat 32 vertically slidable within the bore or chamber The latter valve seat 32 is adapted to be held in position and in engagement with the seat 30 by means of 4 a coil spring 34C bearing thereagainst and against a ring-like collar 35 inserted in the head 19 for the purpose and which is also adapted to maintain the filter screen 18 in position. Normally the said valve is securely held between the valve seats 27 and 30 and rotatable thereon without reference to any other securing means. A washer 31 at the edge of the member forming the valve seat 30 prevents the passage of water between the same and the casing 24.

The upper surface of the valve seat 30 provides a wall to form with the cap or head 19 an upper chamber located near the top of the head 19. In order to permit the passage of water from such chamber to the various parts I provide through the said seat 30 a single orifice 36 located substantially between the center or axis of said valve seat and the periphery. The valve 29 is provided with two passages each adapted alternately to register with the orifice 36 by reason of their location in different planes. One of these passages is adapted to communicate directly with the bubble part of the fountain while the other is adapted to form a passage between the head 19 and the nozzle passage 26. Herein7 for example, l provide the valve 29 with they passage 38 adapted to communicate with the orifice 36 when the valve is swung in one position about its seat. This latter passage leads ofi at right angles to the axis of the valve and is in direct communication with a pipe 39 screw threaded at 40 into the side of said Valve 29. A passage 42 adapted to communicate with the orifice 36 is spaced circumferentially of the passage 38 and is directed clear through said valve at an inclination that will bring the bottom of said passage substantially central with the bore 26.

The pipe 39 leads from said valve at right angles lthereto and is preferably looped downward and then upward at a short distance from the valve 29 and on the upper end ythereof l provide a bubble head 45 at the top yof which is a cap 47 having therethrough a comparatively large size orifice 48 through which water is adapted to pass in the form of small ebullitions or a bubbling stream which is adapted to be easily reached by the lips of the person who desires a drink of water. v

Said pipe 39 forms lever or handle adapted to be grasped by the operator to turn the valve 29 s that the passage 38 may be placed in communication with the orifice 36 to permit water to flow therethrough and through the pipe 39 to the head 45 from whence it will be discharged through the orifice 48 as described. lVhen this occurs the passage 42 is not in communication with the orifice 36 and all the water is projected into the drinking fountain portion. If, however, the operator will now rotate the valve until the passage 42 is in communication with the passage 36 the passage 38 is cut off from the latter and water will flow through the orifice 36 the passage 42 thence to the bore 26 to be projected from the faucet or nozzle in the usual manner. When lthe valve 29 is turned so that neither passage 38 or 42 communicates with the orifice 3,6 the blank surface of said valve so presentedentirely shuts off all flow through said orifice.

In order that the said passages 38 or 42 and a blank portion of .the valve may be permitted to register with the orifice 36 the casingor cage 24 is cut away or slotted semicircumferentially for a distance corresponding to the entire distance of movement re- Vquired of the pipe 39 in order to bring the said passages or the blank space to register with said lorifice when the said pipe 39 engages the eXtreme end walls of the said slot and prevent further movement of the valve 29 in that direction.

Therefore the casing 24 need not be inclosed and may be in the nature of a cage with merely a supporting means for the valve seat 27 and to provide a nozzle portion and the outlet passage 26. It has been found suflicient that the valve be provided only with the ample bearing surfaces which l herein combine with the respective vvalve seats. Therefore the said valve 29 need not be provided with packing devices or the like or any other means to prevent water from passing the point of valve support formed by the respective seats held in proper relative engagement by the coil spring 34 pressing the valve seat 32 against the upper seat 30 on the said valve 29.

By means of my invention I provide what has been termed a bubble .drinking fountain adapted in its use and application to be utilized as a drinking fountain and at the same time permit the faucet to be used inthe well known manner. rlhe faucet may be provided with the usual shut voff valve or the like which it is unnecessary herein to describe or illustrate any further than indicated.

ln order that excessive water pressure may not be projected into the bubble head 45 l provide at the lower portion thereof a pressure reducing valve 55 consisting of a plug like member forced into the bore at the bottom of the said bubble head and provided with a plurality of smaller orifices 56 drilled longitudinally thereof. Axially of the valve l provide a screw threaded bore 57 adapted to be engaged by the screw 58 having anenlarged head 59 and by rotating the said screw the same will move up or down carrying with it said head 59. lf said head be brought away from the orifices 56 a greater water pressure will be had and if said screw be rotated to reduce the distance between the said valve 55 andjsaid head it will eut off to a very large measure the amount of the water and therefore the force of the same as it enters the bubble head. In this manner l ca n reduce the actual force of water entering the aforesaid bubble head and therefore produce just the desired bubbling effect above the orifice 48 and prevent projecting a stream of water into the face of the user if the faucet is turned fully on. On the other hand .the water pressure or stream is not materially reduced in force as it flows through the passage 38 and through the nozzle bore 2.6 all for ordinary purposes. Likewise it will be noticed that when the bubble fountain is not in use or when the passage 38 communicates with the orifice 36 the head 45 and pipe 39 is swung back to one side of the faucet Where it is entirely out of the Way, and all the normal functions of a faucet are retained.

I have described herein one embodiment of my invention; but it is to be understood that the latter is not essentially limited to the specific details of construction and 0rganization of said embodiment, since the same may be varied Without departing from the proper scope of the claims.

Claims.

l. In a device of the character described, a casing adapted to be attached to an ordinary Water faucet, said casing being provided With coupling means therefor and having an inlet therethrough and an outlet in alinement with said inlet and a bearing seat adjacent to the latter, an independent valve seat movable in axial alinement With said inlet and said outlet and having a passage therethrough between the axis thereof and its periphery, a rotatable valve bearing wholly on the bearing seat on said casing and on the said independent valve seat and wholly supported and rotatable thereon, said valve having one passage adapted at times to aline with the passage in said valve seat and with said outlet and having another passage adapted at other times to aline With said passage through said independent valve seat and adapted to direct Water `transversely thereto, a pipe pro-vided with a drinking head and connected with said valve to communicate with its transverse passage and extending transversely to the valve to rotate the same.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing adapted to be attached to an ordinary water faucet, said casing being provided With coupling means therefor and having an inlet therethrough and an outlet in alinement with said inlet and a bearing seat adjacent to the latter, an independent valve seat movable in axial alinement with said inlet and said outlet and having a passage therethrough between the axis thereof and its periphery, a rotatable valve Wholly supported by and rotatable on said valve seats, said valve having one passage adapted at times to aline with the passage through said independent valve seat and with said outlet and having another passage adapted at other times to aline with the passage through the independent valve seat and adapted to direct Water transversely through thevalve, a pipe provided with a drinking head and connected with said valve to communicate with its transverse passage and extending transversely to the valve to rotate the same, and a spring to force said independent valve seat toward the casing valve seat to Wholly support the valve rotatably therebetween.

3. In a device of the character described, a casing adapted to `be attached to an ordinary Water faucet, said casing being provided ivith coupling means therefor and having an inlet therethroughand an outlet in alinement with said inlet with a bearing seat adjacent to the latter, an independent valve seat movable in axial alinement with said inlet and said outlet and having a passage therethrough between the axis thereof and its periphery, a rotatable valve Wholly supported by and rotatable on said valve seats, said valve having one passage adapted at times to aline with the passage through said independent valve seat and with said outlet and having another passage adapted at other times to aline with the passage through the independent valve seat and adapted to direct water transversely through the valve, a pipe connected to said valve to communicate with its transverse passage and extending transversely to the valve to rotate the same, a drinking head on said pipe and having an opening through Which a jet of water may pass, a pressure reducing device in said head and a spring to force said independent valve seat toward the casing valve seat to wholly support the valve rotatably therebetween.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

IVILLIAM DOUCETTE. 

